It is tempting to describe Stephanie Houghton’s footballing year as a
rollercoaster, except that the ride just keeps taking her higher.

Hopefully the golden girl of the London 2012 football tournament will end it
with a winner’s medal in this year’s Women’s European Championship finals in
Sweden, but for now, having captained Arsenal Ladies for the first time this
week as they reached the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League,
Houghton is content to hold on tight and go with the flow.

Voted England women’s player of the year, having scored in all three of Great
Britain’s group-match victories last